Whether your wedding is glamorous or relaxed, you’ll want to follow up your nuptials with a honeymoon! One of the current trends when it comes to honeymoon travel is to forego the long two-week honeymoon abroad, in favour of taking a shorter holiday close to home. These shorter getaways have been dubbed mini-moons.
The word ‘mini-moon’ didn’t even exist a few years ago, and now it has made it into the Oxford English dictionary! More couples than ever before are opting to take short breaks after their wedding rather than the traditional long getaway.
For those with busy work and family lives, mini-moons are becoming more and more appealing. Mini-moons can be less expensive, easy to fit into tight schedules, and still allow the chance to de-stress after the big day! They can be taken near or far, and the variety of choices are endless. We take a deeper look into the benefits of this shorter honeymoon trend, as well as how to design the perfect mini-moon and some suggestions on where to enjoy the perfect romantic getaway after your wedding.
The Benefits of a Mini-Moon
There are a number of reasons why mini-moons are advantageous. First of all, a shorter getaway closer to home allows the couple to splurge on a more luxurious property, rather than spending the honeymoon on a mediocre resort for two weeks. Also, due to the credit crunch, many couples are seeing their budgets stretched tightly. A more humble honeymoon allows them to still enjoy themselves without putting too much financial stress on their new union. The mini-moon allows couples to invest the difference in their future – such as putting it toward a down payment for a home or a savings fund for a child’s education.
Another reason for mini-moons is that the couple might not have enough vacation days between them to go away for a long time, especially if they want to save those vacation days for other events such as visiting family. Or, perhaps their schedule is very hectic with a lot of commitments after the wedding and they simply can’t squeeze in the time to take two weeks off for a vacation.
Taking a small ‘quickie holiday’ doesn’t stop newlywed couples from going on a longer romantic getaway later when it is more convenient or affordable. Some couples even go with their children on a ‘Familymoon‘.
Ideas for the Perfect Mini-Moon
A mini-moon can be just as thrilling as a full-on honeymoon. If you are planning a mini-moon for yourself and your new spouse, think about how you can make the getaway as special as possible. Here are just a few ideas for where to enjoy your post-marital getaway.
Keeping it Local
You don’t have to even leave the UK for mini-moons. If you are only spending a short time away, it makes sense to stay within the country so you don’t have to travel too far.
For example, this London city break features a Harrods shopping spree and a double Michelin Star dining experience at The Greenhouse. Another great London mini-moon destination is The Capital Hotel in the heart of Knightsbridge. This stylish and traditional venue is well-suited to a romantic mini-moon. Enjoy a celebratory champagne afternoon tea, a whisky tasting, or delicious six-course dinner. You’ll find yourselves nearby endless shopping, and parks perfect for romantic strolls.
Self-catering can also be a great idea for a mini-moon and can give you a lot of privacy and freedom. Perhaps you could rent a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales or the Cotswolds for a few days and enjoy going on long hikes and cuddling up by the fire in the evenings. You could also consider heading to the rugged highlands of Scotland, the gorgeous landscapes of the Lake District or perhaps the stunning coast of Cornwall. We’re lucky enough to have some incredible destinations right on our doorstep.
City Breaks
Looking to make your mini-moon a little more exotic? Here are a few exciting options for city breaks abroad!
For the history-loving couple, consider Turkey. Explore the area across the Bosphorus Strait, known by several names: Istanbul, Constantinople and Byzantium. Discover cultural influences of each of the different empires that ruled the area. Istanbul is full of mosaics, Egyptian obelisks and even a Roman Hippodrome. Indulge with a four-night stay at the world’s only Relais & Chateaux living museum in Cappadocia, including that bucket-list hot air balloon flight over the lunar-like landscape
Romance awaits in the enchanting city of Florence. Take in the birthplace of the Renaissance with a personalized two-night stay at a 5-star hotel. Dive into the drama with tickets to the Opera, and savour a tasting menu dinner in a Michelin starred restaurant. Da Vinci’s “Annuciation” rests in the Uffizi Gallery, and Michelangelo’s “David” can be found in the Florence Galleria dell’Accademia.
How about a five star romantic Barcelona Break for Two, featuring a sailboat cruise and a tasting menu dinner at one of Barcelona’s leading restaurants? Or maybe try a wonderfully sweet Romance in Bruges getaway which includes a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic city? These experiences offer just the right blend of magic, romance and luxury – making them perfect for a mini-moon.
Take a Mini-Moon Today
The idea of mini-moons is that you don’t have to follow tradition when you are planning your wedding or your honeymoon. If a shorter getaway works better for you, then feel free to design the adventure that suits your needs. You should feel free to plan the holiday that would be the most fun for yourself and your new partner – whether you are into relaxing on the beach, dining in fine restaurants, perusing art galleries, hiking in the wilderness or visiting wineries.
Whether you wish to stay close to home or venture further abroad, a mini-moon can be that little taste of luxury you and your spouse will remember forever. Let the memories begin!